“Heritage for Humanity”

Since antiquity , the seas, rivers and lakes, far from being an obstacle, have been one of the most significant means of communication to allow the exchange of people, products and ideas, continuously using and evolving maritime an naval technologies.

At the same time, unique conditions imposed by the marine and maritime environment have created for centuries specific cultures expressed through both the beliefs of sailors and maritime communities and the scientific knowledge applied to the nautical challenges, via communication, the naval trade organization or the strategies of naval war.

On the other hand, lakes and rivers has been witness of the development of several civilizations, being also a mean of communication between different cultures.

The result is a range of specific culture, inseparable from the historical development on the mainland, a cultural heritage whose research is essential for understanding the genesis of today's society.

IKUWA V structure

Taking into account the geographical, cultural and historical Mediterranean and Atlantic environment, some conference sessions will run simultaneously in three rooms: